Somewhere between mother's breast and the lunchroom, something has gone very wrong. How to instill good eating habits from the start

Too much sugar, too much fat, too many meals on the run and not enough vegetables or variety. Could it be that Americans' worst eating habits all take root in the high chair and stroller? Consider this: By age 2, according to a 2002 survey, 1 in 5 babies is eating candy every day. And the No. 1 vegetable for toddlers isn't pureed peas or carrots; it's French fries. Sounds a lot less like baby food and a lot more like, well, our own meals.

To understand exploding obesity rates among the very young, researchers are looking into the critical period...